The Beauty Of Unwrapped Newborn Portraits
Sometimes a newborn needs nothing else
Some of my favourite newborn portraits are the simplest.
No outfit.
No elaborate wrapping.
Very little between the baby, the light and the camera.
An unwrapped newborn portrait allows us to see something that disappears remarkably quickly: the natural shape and scale of a brand-new baby.
Nothing needs to be added.
Why I photograph newborns unwrapped
Newborn babies have a particular physicality.
The curled back.
Tiny shoulders.
Long fingers or tightly closed fists.
Feet tucked underneath them.
A head small enough to fit into a parent's hand.
Within weeks, much of this has already changed.
This is how small they were.
Your baby does not have to be naked
Unwrapped does not automatically mean completely naked.
A baby may be partly wrapped, covered with a simple piece of fabric or photographed in a way that shows skin without showing everything.
Sometimes all I need is a bare back, a shoulder, a foot or the curve of a baby's body.
We decide what is appropriate for your baby and what you are comfortable with.
Unwrapped can still be covered.
Held by a parent
Some unwrapped newborn photographs are made while the baby is being held.
Against a chest.
Over a shoulder.
Curled into an arm.
Supported in two hands.
The adult body gives us scale and gives the baby somewhere familiar to settle.
A tiny body against a much bigger one.
Skin-to-skin
Skin-to-skin photographs can include either parent.
They are made discreetly, and you do not need to show more skin than you are comfortable with.
Often a bare shoulder, back or chest is enough.
It is not about exposure. It is about how small your baby is against you.
What about nappies?
Nappies are practical but not always particularly beautiful.
Depending on the photograph, I may position fabric around the baby, photograph from an angle where the nappy is not visible, or remove it briefly when it is safe and sensible to do so.
And yes, babies sometimes wee.
That comes with the territory.
Keeping your baby comfortable
If your baby is being photographed with little or no clothing, I make sure they are kept comfortable and covered again whenever necessary.
We stop when we need to stop.
A photograph is never more important than the baby.
Simple does not mean unposed
An unwrapped portrait can look effortless while still being carefully made.
I pay attention to the position of the baby's head and hands, the shape of the body, the light and the way the baby is supported.
When a parent is holding the baby, I am looking at their hands and posture too.
The photograph may contain very little.
That makes every detail more visible.
Twenty years later
I have photographed newborns simply since I began photographing them more than twenty years ago.
Clothing and newborn photography styles have changed considerably during that time.
The newborn body hasn't.
That is why I keep returning to it.
Ready when you are
If this way of photographing newborns appeals to you, you can see more of my work and read about the complete newborn experience.
Natural newborn poses with parents →
What to wear for newborn photos →
View newborn portrait portfolio →
View the newborn portrait experience →
Contact me →
JOHANNESBURG PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER
One Moment. One Portrait. Forever
© 2005–2026 Bridget Corke Photography
Blairgowrie · Johannesburg · South Africa
International Master's in Portrait Photography
One of only two in Africa.